By Agbonlahor Felicia (TQM Correspondent, Benin)
The Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency in collaboration with her partners (African CDC, Momentum Routine Immunisation Transformation for Equity- MRITE, World Health Organisation, UNICEF, and Nigeria Center for Disease Control) has flagged off the Scales 3.0 strategy for accelerating Covid-19 Vaccination in Edo State.
The flagged off which took place at Ugbor Primary Health Care Centre in Oredo Local Government Area on Thursday, September 15, 2022, was declared opened by the Deputy Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu ably represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof Obehi Akoria.
In His speech, the Deputy Governor reiterated that the health and well-being of Edo people is of topmost priority of government agenda. Assuring that Covid-19 vaccines are safe, potent and effective.
Comrade Philip Shaibu therefore urged that people who are yet to complete their covid-19 vaccine dose, should ensure that they complete their doses, as special mobile vaccination team will be on public strategic locations for easy accessibility.
In Same vein, the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Mrs. Obehi Akoria noted that the scales 3.0 strategy covers a three (3) months vaccination campaign plan that will accelerate Covid-19 vaccination coverage across the eighteen (18) Local Government Areas of the state, by identifying unique enablers and deploying specific strategies that will also ramp-up routine immunization and other primary health care services.
The Acting Executive Secretary, Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Gideon Iraoyah while giving his welcome address explained that the scales 3.0 strategy is put in place to increase herd immunity in the state.
Dr. Gideon Iraoyah asserted that everyone is at risk of contracting Corona Virus, because covid-19 affects all ages and classes of people; Hence, the Scales 3.0 strategy and the target he said is to achieve seventy (70%) percent coverage by the end of 2022.
Dr. Iraoyah further explained that, Covid-19 is a viral disease caused by an emerging stain of corona virus know as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus 2 which belongs to the family of Corona Viruses. And therefore urged that, those that are partially vaccinated should complete their doses as partial vaccination is not a guarantee for covid-19 protection.
Also speaking at the flag off ceremony, Dr Yakubu Cherima, the Country Director for Momentum Routine Immunisation Transformation for Equity (MRITE), expressed his delight that the flag-off was well.attended by the vulnerable and added that they need to be proved from the coronavirus by taking their Covid vaccines. He added that MRITE is a USAID funded project that supports Covid-19 vaccination and Routine Immunisation in the State. Dr. Efemena Onowugbeda, on behalf of the Edo State Coordinator, World Healrh Organization(WHO), said that the aim of scales 3.0 is to get Edo people vaccinated and be protected against coronavirus. Adding that WHO is fully in support of the campaign plan.
The climax of the event was the vaccination of invitees whom had been partially vaccinated and those who are yet to be vaccinated.
The vaccination exercise was monitored by the Edo State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Mrs. Obehi Akoria
